title: Comparison of low-contrast visual acuity between eye black and maxsight tinted contact lenses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Athletes who participate in outdoor activities seek products to reduce glare and improve contrast. This study compares performance of low-contrast visual acuity (VA) in bright outdoor conditions between the Maxsight Amber contact lens (CLs) and clear CLs with and without Eye Black grease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen subjects were fitted with clear CLs, clear lenses with Eye Black grease, Maxsight lenses with Eye Black grease, and Maxsight lenses alone. With each modality, the subject demonstrated low-contrast VA assessed and completed a questionnaire. At the end of testing, subjects completed a questionnaire to survey the performance of each modality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average low-contrast VA with clear CLs was 20/18.4, which improved to 20/17 with the addition of Eye Black grease (P=0.132). Significant improvement in low-contrast VA was seen with the Maxsight CLs to 20/15.4 (P<0.05), although it was not further improved with the addition of Eye Black grease. The results of the questionnaire showed a preference of the Maxsight CLs throughout the study for low-contrast VA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although Eye Black grease has its place in sport and some sporting environments, the benefit in contrast acuity is insignificant. The better performance of the amber Maxsight lenses in this study demonstrates a visual performance benefit in bright sunlight.
authors.affiliation: From the Faculty (F.C.H., G.B.E.), Pacific University College of Optometry, Forest Grove, OR; Eye Health Northwest (B.K.), Portland, OR; and John Day Eye Care (B.M.), John Day, OR.
authors.forename: Fraser C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Horn
authors.forename: Graham B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: Brock
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karben
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003261:Contact Lenses; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008029:Lighting; D008297:Male; D019876:Sports Equipment; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult